Murder-suicide victim recalled as loving, nurturing person

This photo from the family, from some years ago, shows Donna Zollo, right, and her daughter, Jenn Zollo.

Donna Zollo believed that, eventually, everything had a way of working itself out.

Friends and family said she had a knack for pointing out the silver lining in every situation, and would drop whatever she was doing to help those in need.

When she cared for someone, she “cared with her entire heart and would do absolutely anything for them,” said her 19-year-old daughter, Jenn.

Ms. Zollo, 47, who friends and family described as a fun-loving salsa dancer, a dedicated educator, and an unwavering optimist, died on Friday, June 14 in an apparent murder-suicide.

The day before, Ms. Zollo held services for her mother, Marie Zollo, who died after a struggle with cancer on June 8.

Donna Zollo's boyfriend, 42-year-old Israel Gonzalez, was also found dead at her home on Lamar Avenue. The couple had been together about three years.

Worcester Police said the case is still under investigation pending ballistic test results and a final report from the medical examiner's office.

“I'm shocked that this is happening,” said her friend, Margie Vasquez, who had known Ms. Zollo for nearly 25 years and doesn't believe Ms. Zollo would harm herself. “She was just too stable to take her own life and leave her daughter.”

Michelle Benoit met Ms. Zollo while they worked together at the University Campus of UMass Memorial Medical Center in the late 1990s.

Both single mothers, the two connected and became close friends, she said.

“My favorite times with Donna were our conversations,” Ms. Benoit said. Even if they couldn't find time to meet and talk outside of work, they would steal a few minutes to speak privately.

“She would give you a hug ... and she would say 'Mich, you deserve better,' or 'You deserve to be happy,' ” she said. “I would just pick up the phone or text and no matter how crazy her life was, she was there for you ... she was that kind of a friend to many.”

In January 2010, Ms. Zollo began working full time as an instructional assistant for the Central Massachusetts Special Education Collaborative, where she worked at three different locations, including the Woodward Day School, helping middle and high school students with special education needs.

“She touched a lot of lives,” said Joan Dio, executive director of the collaborative. “Lots of kids were affected, even middle and high school students who like to show their bravado.”

Ms. Zollo accompanied groups of students through their classes throughout the day, Ms. Dio said.

“Donna was always someone who had a smile,” she said. “She was full of life and brought that energy with her.”

She was also remembered as someone who took the initiative to fill in where things needed to be done.

“Nobody asked more than Donna: 'How can I help you?' and 'What do you need me to do?' ” said Angela Moore, a neighbor, regarding two recent performance reviews from Ms. Zollo's supervisors.

She said she was not judgmental with the students, who can be challenging.

If she had a “kid who was completely shut down and didn't want to do anything, she would sit down and say 'Let me help you,' ” Mrs. Moore said.

Iris Guadalupe said her 7-year-old son, Ruben, has Down syndrome and “adored” Ms. Zollo.

“People when they see a kid with special needs they don't really open up to them but Donna opened up to him,” she said. At his recent birthday party, Ms. Guadalupe recalled, while others sat and mingled, it was Ms. Zollo, in her red sweater and blue jeans, who was running around and playing with Ruben.

“She was by his side during the party,” she said. “Sometimes he doesn't understand what is going on ... but he knew Donna was there to be with him.”

An only child, Donna Zollo was born on May 1, 1966, to Marie and Vincent Zollo.

Her mother was a Worcester native who worked as a clerk for the state trial court for about 35 years.

Mrs. Moore lived next door to the family, and said she was born 10 days after Ms. Zollo.

When Mrs. Zollo went into labor she shouted next door that she was going to the hospital, Mrs. Moore said. The two grew up together and remained friends throughout their lives.

“We've been going back and forth calling each other Thelma and Louise because we always stuck together,” she said.

Ms. Zollo attended St. Peter-Marian High School, where she graduated in 1984.

In her 20s, she attended Quinsigamond Community College seeking a degree in early childhood education, but did not graduate, her daughter said. In the mid-2000s, she returned to Quinsigamond briefly before changing gears to attend Becker College.

While she never quite made up her mind, her daughter said Ms. Zollo would have liked to be a guidance counselor because it would have allowed her to help children “on a deeper level.”

In 1990, she married John Pisarczyk, whom she divorced in 2007.

In addition to her work at UMass and with special needs students, Ms. Zollo ran an after-school program at St. Mary School in Shrewsbury, and was a preschool teacher at Saint Bernadette School in Northboro, her daughter said.

In her spare time, Ms. Zollo enjoyed visiting the Banner Bar & Grille on Green Street, salsa dancing and walking her dog, a boxer named Sophie.

Her daughter, who plans to return to Bridgewater State University in the fall, will soon be competing in the North American Irish Dance Championships. She said that she hopes to qualify for the world championships for 2014 in honor of her mother and grandmother.

Besides her daughter, Ms. Zollo is also survived by cousins, aunts and uncles. Calling hours will be held today at 2 p.m. at the Mercadante Funeral Home, with a service scheduled for 6 p.m.

The one thing her loved ones will remember the most was Ms. Zollo's smile, which they said would always “light up the room.”

Contact Alli Knothe at aknothe@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @KnotheA